Hi Zip
I've noticed on the Climate forum that you are attempting to remain relatively open minded on the CC issue, but let me acquaint you with a few realities on the current fire dynamic, which might give you pause - keeping in mind that I'm a former (professional) remote area specialist firefighter with tertiary qualifications in fire science and fire behavior.
First, since the beginning of this Century the window of opportunity to conduct fuel/hazard/prescribed burns has continued to diminish with every passing year due to changing weather patterns; erg the build-up of ground fuel. Second, the "Fire Danger Index" used by the wildfire industry since the 60s has been exceeding the 100% limit by 100% (=200%) since the early 2000s. We as firefighters couldn't believe it when this happened. This was something new - unprecedented.
Over the last 19 years (Eastern States) we have endured 2 of the worst droughts since records began; first the Millenium drought, which lasted an unprecedented circa 10 years followed by unprecedented floods, and now this drought of circa 3 years, which has become even worse in its severity.
Sure, there's no such thing as normal weather, but in the above context its fairly safe to say that the weather is clearly becoming abnormal. And its just not Australia that experiencing these unusual fire events. Its happening all over the World.
